mph to m/s Converter
Convert miles per hour into metres per second for technical work
mph to m/s FAQ
How do you convert mph to m/s exactly?
The exact relationship is based on the definitions of the mile and the metre. One mile is 1 609.344 metres and one hour is 3 600 seconds. That means 1 mph = 1 609.344 ÷ 3 600 ≈ 0.44704 m/s. To convert mph to m/s, you simply multiply by 0.44704. For example, 60 mph × 0.44704 ≈ 26.82 m/s.
Why is 0.44704 the conversion factor from mph to m/s?
The factor comes directly from unit definitions. Converting miles to metres introduces the 1 609.344 multiplier, and converting hours to seconds introduces the 3 600 divisor. When you divide 1 609.344 by 3 600, you get the exact factor 0.44704. This converter uses that precise value so your mph to m/s results match physics textbooks, engineering calculations and standards documents.
Where is mph used vs m/s?
Miles per hour (mph) is common for driving speeds, vehicle performance specs and sports broadcasts in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Metres per second (m/s) is the SI unit of speed used in physics, engineering, meteorology and many technical fields. Converting from mph to m/s lets you plug familiar road or wind speeds into equations and models that are written in SI units.
Is this converter accurate enough for engineering and physics?
Yes. The converter relies on the exact mile and metre definitions used in international standards. As long as your mph value is correct, the metres-per-second result is accurate enough for most coursework, lab work, engineering design calculations and simulation checks. You can then round the m/s value to match the precision your project or instructor requires.
How many decimal places of m/s should I keep?
For rough comparisons, one decimal place in m/s is often enough. For example, 60 mph becomes about 26.8 m/s. For serious physics, engineering or simulation work, two to three decimal places can be useful. This converter keeps full precision internally and prints a clean m/s value that you can round to the number of significant figures you need.
Can I use this for wind speeds and sports timing?
Definitely. Many weather reports, aerodynamic calculations and track-and-field analyses use m/s. If your weather app or sensor reports in mph but your formulas or rulebooks expect m/s, this mph to m/s converter gives you an instant, precise translation between the two.
What if my speed is in m/s, km/h or ft/s instead?
If you already have metres per second and want mph, use the dedicated m/s to mph tool via the “Swap Units” button. For other units such as kilometres per hour or feet per second, the speed conversion calculator lets you move between several speed units on one page without doing multiple intermediate conversions yourself.
From everyday mph speeds to SI metres-per-second values
This mph to m/s converter is designed for moments when speeds are given in miles per hour but your calculations, simulations or reports need the SI unit of metres per second. That is common in physics and engineering courses, CFD or FEA models, wind-tunnel work, aerodynamics studies and performance analysis. Instead of multiplying by 0.44704 on a handheld calculator each time, you enter the mph value once and get a clear line such as “70 mph ≈ 31.29 m/s”.
1. One mph input, one m/s result
The interface is intentionally minimal: a single input for miles per hour and a result card underneath. You can enter typical road speeds like 30, 50 or 70 mph, or much higher speeds when you are analysing aircraft, high-speed tests or simulation outputs. Behind the scenes, the converter multiplies by 0.44704 exactly and formats the metres-per-second result so it is easy to read on phones, tablets and desktop screens.
If you later need to go the other way, from metres per second back to miles per hour, the “Swap Units” button takes you directly to the m/s to mph page. The two tools are built as a pair so you can move seamlessly between everyday mph and SI m/s without changing how you work.
2. Simple linear relationship between mph and m/s
mph and m/s are linearly related, meaning that doubling the speed in mph doubles the speed in m/s. The only difference between them is the scale factor 0.44704, which reflects the ratio of miles per hour to metres per second. Quick mental estimates often use 0.45 or even 0.5 as a rough rule of thumb, but this converter sticks to the exact value so its outputs match technical references and scientific calculators.
When you need to connect mph and m/s with other speed units such as km/h, ft/s or knots, the speed conversion calculator provides a broader hub that keeps several units in sync on one page.
3. Common mph to m/s values at a glance
These example conversions match what the calculator outputs and help you build intuition for how familiar mph speeds map onto m/s:
| Miles per hour (mph) | Metres per second (m/s) |
|---|---|
| 10 mph | ≈ 4.47 m/s |
| 20 mph | ≈ 8.94 m/s |
| 30 mph | ≈ 13.41 m/s |
| 40 mph | ≈ 17.88 m/s |
| 50 mph | ≈ 22.35 m/s |
| 60 mph | ≈ 26.82 m/s |
| 70 mph | ≈ 31.29 m/s |
| 80 mph | ≈ 35.76 m/s |
A quick mental rule is to halve the mph and then subtract about 10%. For example, 60 mph → half is 30, minus about 10% gives roughly 27 m/s, close to the exact 26.82 m/s. When you need the precise value for equations, reports or code, this converter uses the full 0.44704 factor so your numbers remain consistent and reproducible.
4. Where the mph to m/s converter shines
You will most often reach for this tool in situations like:
- Physics and engineering homework — turning mph speeds from word problems into SI m/s values for formulas.
- Simulation and modelling — converting mph inputs and outputs into m/s for CFD, FEA or custom code that runs in SI units.
- Wind speed and meteorology — expressing forecast or measured winds in m/s while still thinking about their mph equivalents.
- Vehicle and aerodynamics studies — translating on-road mph data or specs into m/s for drag, lift and power calculations.
- Sports science and performance analysis — converting mph readings from devices into m/s when research papers or models expect SI.
Because it follows the official relationship between miles per hour and metres per second, you can rely on this mph to m/s converter whenever you need clear, repeatable results that bridge everyday intuition and technical calculations.
References and further reading on mph and m/s
These references explain how miles per hour and metres per second are defined and used:
- Miles per hour — describes the mph unit, where it is used and its relationship to m/s, km/h and other speed units.
- Metre per second — explains m/s as the SI derived unit of speed and velocity, with examples and conversion factors.
- NIST: The International System of Units (SI) — Section 2 — shows how quantities like speed can be expressed in SI units such as metres per second alongside alternatives like km/h.
For critical engineering, safety or regulatory work, always follow your organisation’s official conversion and rounding procedures when moving between mph, m/s and other speed units.